Zeaxanthin is a carotenoid found in many vegetables and fruits, particularly green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach. Zeaxanthin and lutein are becoming more popular since we now know that they have an important role in eye health and eyesight. See a few paragraphs below for zeaxanthin research information.

Eyesight Rx with Zeaxanthin and Lutein
Developed by Ray Sahelian, M.D.


Unlike some vision products that provide nutrients and herbs for long term healthy eyesight support, and prevention of visual impairment, but don't seem to have much of an immediate effect on visual acuity, Eyesight Rx with zeaxanthin and lutein was formulated to provide a noticeable eyesight improvement within hours or days of use.

Reports from Eyesight Rx users indicate enhanced clarity of vision, colors being brighter, better focus, and overall improvement in close and distance vision. We've had reports of some people noticing this effect within hours, while most people notice improved eyesight within several days or even a week or two later.

Ingredients in Eyesight Rx include:
Citrus bioflavonoids (eriocitrin, hesperidin, flavonols, flavones, flavonoids, naringenin, and quercetin)
Mixed carotenoids (alpha carotene, astaxanthin, beta carotene, cryptoxanthin, Lycopene, Zeaxanthin and Lutein )
Bilberry extract (Vaccinium myrtillus)
Eyebright extract (Euphrasia officianales)
Jujube extract (Zizyphus jujube)
Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo biloba)
Suma extract (Pfaffia paniculata)
Mucuna pruriens extract (Cowhage)
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
Lycium berry extract (Lycium Barbarum)
Sarsaparila (Sarsaparilla Smilax)
Alpha Lipoic Acid is a powerful free radical scavenger that is becoming more popular.


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High Quality products formulated by a medical doctor
Consider highly popular all natural products formulated by Ray Sahelian, M.D. These include Mind Power Rx for better mental focus, concentration, and mood; Diet Rx which curbs your appetite so you eat less; Good Night Rx for better sleep; Eyesight Rx for better vision within days; MultiVit Rx a daily comprehensive multivitamin for more energy and vitality; Joint Power Rx for healthy joints; Prostate Power Rx for a healthy prostate gland; Passion Rx for sexual enhancement in men and women; and Veg Rx which supplies the missing nutrients to those who eat a vegetarian diet.

MultiVit Rx - High Quality Daily Vitamins and Minerals with Zeaxanthin and Lutein
Developed by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

This popular MultiVit Rx product has dozens of nutrients, along with zeaxanthin. Click the link for full details.

Zeaxanthin side effects
Not enough research has been done to determine if there are side effects from excess zeaxanthin ingestion. Perhaps there could be slight distortion in vision if too high zeaxanthin amounts are consumed which may interfere with the proper balance in the retina of zeaxanthin, lutein, and other carotenoids and substances necessary for optimal vision health.

Food sources of zeaxanthin and lutein
Zeaxanthin and lutein are found in spinach, kale, eggs, turnip greens, collard greens, romaine lettuce, broccoli, zucchini, corn, garden peas and Brussels sprouts.

Zeaxanthin Research Update
Enhanced bioavailability of zeaxanthin in a milk-based formulation of wolfberry (Gou Qi Zi; Fructus barbarum L.).
Br J Nutr. 2006 Jul;96(1):154-60. Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
The carotenoid zeaxanthin is concentrated within the macula. Increased macular zeaxanthin is suggested to lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration. The small red berry, wolfberry (Fructus barbarum L.; Gou Qi Zi and Kei Tze), is one of the richest natural sources of zeaxanthin. However, carotenoid bioavailability is low, and food-based products with enhanced bioavailability are of interest. The present study investigated zeaxanthin bioavailability from three wolfberry formulations. Results showed clearly that homogenisation of wolfberry in hot skimmed milk results in a formulation that has a 3-fold enhanced bioavailability of zeaxanthin compared with both the 'classical' hot water and warm skimmed milk treatment of the berries.

The photoreceptor protector zeaxanthin induces cell death in neuroblastoma cells.
Anticancer Res. 2005 Nov-Dec;25(6B):3871-6. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Teramo, Piazza A. Moro 45, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
The dietary carotenoid zeaxanthin protects against age-related eye disease by preventing apoptosis in photoreceptor cells. This study examined the effect of zeaxanthin on neuroblastoma cells in which apoptosis can be induced with lipid peroxidation products. Since zeaxanthin can inhibit lipid peroxidation and beta-carotene inhibits lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, it was of concern that zeaxanthin might inhibit apoptosis in these cancer cells. CONCLUSION: Zeaxanthin is a remarkable dietary factor that is able to induce apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells while being able to prevent apoptosis in healthy cells.

Human eye cells treated with lutein and zeaxanthin showed less damage after being exposed to ultraviolet rays, the sunlight rays considered a major contributor to cataracts. Cataracts occur when proteins in the eye's lens begin to clump together, forming a milky cloud that obscures vision. It is thought that the more sunlight a person is exposed to in life, the greater the risk for cataracts. Foods that contain particularly high doses of lutein and zeaxanthin include kale and spinach. Researchers at Ohio State University in Columbus grew human lens cells in a laboratory, then added lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin E, or left the cells alone. The researchers then exposed the eye cells to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, in order to mimic the effect of sunlight. Lens cells mixed with lutein and zeaxanthin showed significantly less damage following UV-exposure than cells that had no shielding from antioxidants. Although vitamin E appeared to offer some protection from UV rays, it was surpassed by both lutein and zeaxanthin. It's always better to eat antioxidant-rich foods than supplements, in order to get the benefits of other healthy substances present in foods. SOURCE: Journal of Nutrition, December 2004.

Macular carotenoids: zeaxanthin and lutein.
Dev Ophthalmol. 2005;38:70-88.
The yellow color of the macula lutea is due to the presence of the carotenoid pigments zeaxanthin and lutein. In contrast to human blood and tissues, no other major carotenoids including Beta-carotene or lycopene are found in this tissue. The macular carotenoids are suggested to play a role in the protection of the retina against light-induced damage. Epidemiological studies provide some evidence that an increased consumption of lutein and zeaxanthin with the diet is associated with a lowered risk for age-related macular degeneration, a disease with increasing incidence in the elderly. Protecting ocular tissue against photooxidative damage carotenoids may act in two ways: first as filters for damaging blue light, and second as antioxidants quenching excited triplet state molecules or singlet molecular oxygen and scavenge further reactive oxygen species like lipid peroxides or the superoxide radical anion.

Fasting plasma zeaxanthin response to Fructus barbarum L. (wolfberry; Kei Tze) in a food-based human supplementation trial.
Br J Nutr. 2005 Jan;93(1):123-30.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common disorder that causes irreversible loss of central vision. Increased intake of foods containing zeaxanthin may be effective in preventing AMD because the macula accumulates zeaxanthin and lutein, oxygenated carotenoids with antioxidant and blue light-absorbing properties. Lycium barbarum L. is a small red berry known as Fructus lycii and wolfberry in the West, and Kei Tze and Gou Qi Zi in Asia. Wolfberry is rich in zeaxanthin dipalmitate, and is valued in Chinese culture for being good for vision. The aim of this study, which was a single-blinded, placebo-controlled, human intervention trial of parallel design, was to provide data on how fasting plasma zeaxanthin concentration changes as a result of dietary supplementation with whole wolfberries. Fasting blood was collected from healthy, consenting subjects; fourteen subjects took 15 g/d wolfberry (estimated to contain almost 3 mg zeaxanthin) for 28 d. Repeat fasting blood was collected on day 29. Age- and sex-matched controls (n 13) took no wolfberry. Responses in the two groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. After supplementation, plasma zeaxanthin increased 2.5-fold: mean values on day 1 and 29 were 0.038 and 0.096 micromol/l, respectively, for the supplementation group; and 0.038 (sem 0.003) and 0.043 (sem 0.003) micromol/l, respectively, for the control group. This human supplementation trial shows that zeaxanthin in whole wolfberries is bioavailable and that intake of a modest daily amount markedly increases fasting plasma zeaxanthin levels. These new data will support further study of dietary strategies to maintain macular pigment density.

Plasma kinetics of zeaxanthin and 3'-dehydro-lutein after multiple oral doses of synthetic zeaxanthin.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Mar;79(3):410-7.
Zeaxanthin is hypothesized to reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration; however, kinetic information is limited. The objective was to investigate the plasma kinetics of synthetic zeaxanthin after repeated oral doses and to assess the possible influence of other carotenoids on plasma zeaxanthin concentrations. After a run-in of 3 d, 20 healthy volunteers assigned to 2 parallel dose groups received once daily oral doses of either 1 mg or 10 mg zeaxanthin for 42 days. Plasma concentration-time profiles on days 1 and 42, concentrations immediately before zeaxanthin intake during the dosing period, and concentrations after the last dose until day 76 were monitored. All-E- zeaxanthin concentrations increased from 0.048 micro mol/L at baseline to 0.20  and 0.92 micro mol/L with 1 and 10 mg zeaxanthin, respectively. The dose-normalized bioavailability of all-E- zeaxanthin after the10-mg dose was 40% lower than after the 1-mg dose. After 17 d of dosing, >90% of steady state concentrations were reached, which was compatible with an effective half-life for accumulation of 5 d.  The time course of plasma all-E-3-'dehydro-lutein concentrations resembled that of all-E-zeaxanthin. The data provided evidence that all-E-3-'dehydro-lutein was derived from all-E-zeaxanthin. Concentrations of other carotenoids were not affected. Zeaxanthin was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Long-term oral intake of 1 and 10 mg zeaxanthin as beadlets increases plasma zeaxanthin concentrations approximately 4- and 20-fold, respectively. Evidence that all-E-3-dehydro-lutein is formed from zeaxanthin was strong.

Zeaxanthin and Vision
When people are polled about their health concerns, loss of vision is one of the top conditions listed. While some nutrients that support eye health are well-known and growing in popularity, recent attention is focusing on natural zeaxanthin as an important addition to eye health supplementation. Zeaxanthin (pronounced zee-uh-zan’-thin) is a dietary carotenoid found mostly in the macula, the central part of the retina in the eye that is responsible for most fine vision. Zeaxanthin, like its better-known cousin lutein, is thought to be a critical nutrient for eye health and can help guard against age-related vision loss. People who are at risk include those over 50 years old, people who smoke, those with hypertension and those with a family history of AMD. It affects the central vision, making it difficult to impossible to read, drive, and recognize faces. While not physically painful, AMD is debilitating. Lutein has become increasingly popular, and is now included in many multivitamins. Zeaxanthin, however, is only beginning to be recognized as an important supplement by the general population.

Zeaxanthin Questions
Q. Can a zeaxanthin supplement be taken the same day as serrapeptase or curcumin?
   A. I am not sure about serrapeptase, but I don't see a problem taking zeaxanthin with curcumin.

Q. I respect your opinion and wanted to know if you could comment on this abstract I came across:
Lutein and zeaxanthin intakes and risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts: an evaluation using the Food and Drug Administration's evidence-based review system for health claims.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 84, No. 5, 971-974, November 2006. Paula R Trumbo and Kathleen C Ellwood, From the Division of Nutrition Programs and Labeling, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD
The labeling of health claims that meet the significant scientific agreement standard and of qualified health claims on conventional foods and dietary supplements requires premarket approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA conducts an evidence-based review to ascertain whether sufficient evidence exists to support a significant scientific agreement standard or a qualified health claim. The FDA recently reviewed intervention and observational studies that evaluated the role of lutein and zeaxanthin in reducing the risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. On the basis of this evidence-based review, the FDA concluded that no credible evidence exists for a health claim about the intake of zeaxanthin or lutein (or both) and the risk of age-related macular degeneration or cataracts.
   A. I think there is some evidence that zeaxanthin and lutein can help with vision and perhaps help reduce eye disease in old age, however there is no absolute proof yet and the dosages of these nutrients for optimal vision enhancement is not known. I disagree with their opinion that there is "no credible evidence." Actually, all one has to do is to take a lutein or zeaxanthin supplement, and notice that color perception is improved after a few days. Although there is no absolute proof, I lean on the side of taking small amounts of these supplements, particularly by those who have a diet that lacks adequate intake of fruits and vegetables.

Q. Can you tell me if marigold is a source fo zeaxanthin?
   A. Zeaxanthin is often made from marigold flowers. A typical Marigold flower carotenoid profile is 80 percent lutein and 5 percent zeaxanthin. Different marigold extracts have different concentrations of zeaxanthin and lutein.